Halberd

“If you decide to leave a tavern after having too much to drink, be wary of the guards in this city. They love chasing drunkards and other disturbers of the peace with their halberds. All you can do is run, or perhaps choose to drink less the next time. But enough of that. Let us now turn to a more delightful topic—the local beers.”
-Excerpt from a Garethan burgher’s well-worn copy of How to Fight, Ride, and Drink Beer, modern

While common across the northern half of Aventuria, the halberd is rare in the south and never gained wide acceptance in the Lands of the Tulamydes. Many variants exist, but they mainly differ in the form and length of their cutting surfaces.

Halberds are not the first choice for a pike wall due to their somewhat uneven balance, but heavy infantry units still wield them to great effect on the battlefield. Unusually, for a polearm, it is surprisingly well suited for combat in cramped surroundings, and most northern cities arm their guard force with halberds for this reason. Not all guards are good fighters, of course, but it is unwise to underestimate the threat of a guard armed with a halberd, as many foolhardy thieves, rogues, street gangs, and other instigators have learned to their dismay.

“I always thought that such a long weapon would prove troublesome in cities. I was taught that it is better suited for the field of battle.”

— Carolan Calavanti, Vinsaltan vagabond

“Well, both things are true. In cramped spaces, it has its drawbacks, though not as many as other types of polearms. Many troops use it for pike walls on the battlefield, even though there are better choices.”

— Geron Bladebreaker, mercenary